The author, a well-known public administration theorist, manages to gather within one book several interesting ideas, some with a definite original touch, on the fundamental pillars of modern society - government, public policies, governance, state structures. This book is both analytical and projective and creates a clear picture of the configuration and complex mechanisms of state structures and of the governing instruments. It therefore speaks convincingly in favor of modernizing all these elements, in view of increasing their capability to successfully solve the multiple and sometimes tricky challenges modern national societies face in the third millenium, in order to become modern, cohesive and administratively effective. (Prof. Dr. Corneliu Russu, former Director of Enterprise Economy Institute of the Academy of Romania)